our fellow cyclist, SO STUCK UP

JamieDodger

This is all about acceptable conduct in the club one chooses to join. It is why I am a great believer in probationary periods during which the club can assess whether a new member is of sufficient character to become, in due course, a full and productive member of the club.

This can be difficult for outsiders to understand. If I may give an example (non-cycling), I am a very active member in the local cadre of the Caravan Club. We enforce probationary periods, as we have found that when we are conducting operations on the continent, we need to be able to rely on club members, when navigating, organising the Brit contingent at foreign campsites, ensuring there is no bad behaviour from non-club Brits and non-Brits etc. So we make new members perform a number of probationary trips with us before they are allowed to travel with us over the channel. This can cause misunderstanding from outsiders.

Recently, we arranged to camp on an airfield run by a private flying club - when we arrived in the evening, the flying club rep said to me, as Caravanner-in-Command, there were no problems as long as we set up away from the end of the actual runway. So we did, in 2 groups, the main group and the probationary group. The next morning, the rep came over to me and asked if we could move the probationary group into the main group as they were a little close to the runway. I tried my best to explain to him that the smaller group was on probation, and that they could not possibly join the main group until they had proved themselves to be Able Caravanners. He did not understand, started swearing at me and threw us all off the premises, something that was quite dangerous as a number of us had not yet performed our morning ablutions and as such were really too distracted to drive (until we reached the nearest services).

It just goes to show that outsiders and newcomers may not understand the intricacies of clubs, and that probationary periods, education of potential recruits, and appropriate disciplinary actions are vital. I suspect it is the same with cycling clubs and jerseys.

dodgy

JamieDodger wrote:

This is all about acceptable conduct in the club one chooses to join. It is why I am a great believer in probationary periods during which the club can assess whether a new member is of sufficient character to become, in due course, a full and productive member of the club.

This can be difficult for outsiders to understand. If I may give an example (non-cycling), I am a very active member in the local cadre of the Caravan Club. We enforce probationary periods, as we have found that when we are conducting operations on the continent, we need to be able to rely on club members, when navigating, organising the Brit contingent at foreign campsites, ensuring there is no bad behaviour from non-club Brits and non-Brits etc. So we make new members perform a number of probationary trips with us before they are allowed to travel with us over the channel. This can cause misunderstanding from outsiders.

Recently, we arranged to camp on an airfield run by a private flying club - when we arrived in the evening, the flying club rep said to me, as Caravanner-in-Command, there were no problems as long as we set up away from the end of the actual runway. So we did, in 2 groups, the main group and the probationary group. The next morning, the rep came over to me and asked if we could move the probationary group into the main group as they were a little close to the runway. I tried my best to explain to him that the smaller group was on probation, and that they could not possibly join the main group until they had proved themselves to be Able Caravanners. He did not understand, started swearing at me and threw us all off the premises, something that was quite dangerous as a number of us had not yet performed our morning ablutions and as such were really too distracted to drive (until we reached the nearest services).

It just goes to show that outsiders and newcomers may not understand the intricacies of clubs, and that probationary periods, education of potential recruits, and appropriate disciplinary actions are vital. I suspect it is the same with cycling clubs and jerseys.

dilemna

JamieDodger wrote:

This is all about acceptable conduct in the club one chooses to join. It is why I am a great believer in probationary periods during which the club can assess whether a new member is of sufficient character to become, in due course, a full and productive member of the club.

This can be difficult for outsiders to understand. If I may give an example (non-cycling), I am a very active member in the local cadre of the Caravan Club. We enforce probationary periods, as we have found that when we are conducting operations on the continent, we need to be able to rely on club members, when navigating, organising the Brit contingent at foreign campsites, ensuring there is no bad behaviour from non-club Brits and non-Brits etc. So we make new members perform a number of probationary trips with us before they are allowed to travel with us over the channel. This can cause misunderstanding from outsiders.

Recently, we arranged to camp on an airfield run by a private flying club - when we arrived in the evening, the flying club rep said to me, as Caravanner-in-Command, there were no problems as long as we set up away from the end of the actual runway. So we did, in 2 groups, the main group and the probationary group. The next morning, the rep came over to me and asked if we could move the probationary group into the main group as they were a little close to the runway. I tried my best to explain to him that the smaller group was on probation, and that they could not possibly join the main group until they had proved themselves to be Able Caravanners. He did not understand, started swearing at me and threw us all off the premises, something that was quite dangerous as a number of us had not yet performed our morning ablutions and as such were really too distracted to drive (until we reached the nearest services).

It just goes to show that outsiders and newcomers may not understand the intricacies of clubs, and that probationary periods, education of potential recruits, and appropriate disciplinary actions are vital. I suspect it is the same with cycling clubs and jerseys.

JamieDodger - you have 3 posts and you post this absurd story. You're a wind up merchant :roll: .

Btw I have been closed passed almost taken down by caravan numptees in the past so maybe your "code of conduct" should extend to teaching your members to drive more considerately around vulnerable road users.

JamieDodger

dilemna wrote:

JamieDodger - you have 3 posts and you post this absurd story. You're a wind up merchant :roll: .

Btw I have been closed passed almost taken down by caravan numptees in the past so maybe your "code of conduct" should extend to teaching your members to drive more considerately around vulnerable road users.

It is a perfectly true account.

I am a new cyclist and not yet a member of a cycling club, so I can only apologise for my low number of posts and my lack of a relevant cycling example.

The road users (I refrain from calling them "caravanners", as they are not) to which you refer are clearly not Club members as they are clearly not in charge of their vehicles. This is precisely why we enforce a probation period, so that Able Caravanners can cope with all road conditions and other road users safely, even if those road users are foreign or otherwise unpredictable.

Le Commentateur

Great thread!

rick_chasey

I want a post from the OP about what his attire plans are for this weekend's club ride, and a post - match report please!

_Brun_

Can I get a Caravan Club cycling jersey? It would make perfect sense when I'm holding up a bunch of increasingly angry motorists on narrow country lanes.

fleshtuxedo

I want more posts like that one from JamieDodger.

Aggieboy

Rick Chasey wrote:

I want a post from the OP about what his attire plans are for this weekend's club ride, and a post - match report please!

A group photo would be lovely too!

Supergoose

Im torn here. I have a large collection of cycling jersey's. Well into double figures. It's a cross to bear.Many of them are from trade teams from yesteryear. I also have a penchant for (non UK)national champions jersey's. I wear them all, not at the one time.

Here's the thing though. I wouldn't wear any tour classement jersey, nor would I wear a team GB or British champions jersey.

Any other country is fair game though.

This is the crux, I would never think to take it upon myself to pontificate about the attire anyone chooses to wear whilst they are riding their bike unless it didn't match their shoes/Oakley's.

That's all, carry on.

Aggieboy

JamieDodger wrote:

This is all about acceptable conduct in the club one chooses to join. It is why I am a great believer in probationary periods during which the club can assess whether a new member is of sufficient character to become, in due course, a full and productive member of the club.

This can be difficult for outsiders to understand. If I may give an example (non-cycling), I am a very active member in the local cadre of the Caravan Club. We enforce probationary periods, as we have found that when we are conducting operations on the continent, we need to be able to rely on club members, when navigating, organising the Brit contingent at foreign campsites, ensuring there is no bad behaviour from non-club Brits and non-Brits etc. So we make new members perform a number of probationary trips with us before they are allowed to travel with us over the channel. This can cause misunderstanding from outsiders.

Recently, we arranged to camp on an airfield run by a private flying club - when we arrived in the evening, the flying club rep said to me, as Caravanner-in-Command, there were no problems as long as we set up away from the end of the actual runway. So we did, in 2 groups, the main group and the probationary group. The next morning, the rep came over to me and asked if we could move the probationary group into the main group as they were a little close to the runway. I tried my best to explain to him that the smaller group was on probation, and that they could not possibly join the main group until they had proved themselves to be Able Caravanners. He did not understand, started swearing at me and threw us all off the premises, something that was quite dangerous as a number of us had not yet performed our morning ablutions and as such were really too distracted to drive (until we reached the nearest services).

It just goes to show that outsiders and newcomers may not understand the intricacies of clubs, and that probationary periods, education of potential recruits, and appropriate disciplinary actions are vital. I suspect it is the same with cycling clubs and jerseys.

Although an interesting riposte, I would like your response to a more meaningful analogy to the OP. As 'Caravanner-in-Command', what would your reaction be to said new member arriving wearing leather driving gloves, albeit not of the 'string backed' variety, how would you deal with him and the situation? In the same vein as the OP encountered?

turnerjohn

dilemna wrote:

JamieDodger wrote:

This is all about acceptable conduct in the club one chooses to join. It is why I am a great believer in probationary periods during which the club can assess whether a new member is of sufficient character to become, in due course, a full and productive member of the club.

This can be difficult for outsiders to understand. If I may give an example (non-cycling), I am a very active member in the local cadre of the Caravan Club. We enforce probationary periods, as we have found that when we are conducting operations on the continent, we need to be able to rely on club members, when navigating, organising the Brit contingent at foreign campsites, ensuring there is no bad behaviour from non-club Brits and non-Brits etc. So we make new members perform a number of probationary trips with us before they are allowed to travel with us over the channel. This can cause misunderstanding from outsiders.

Recently, we arranged to camp on an airfield run by a private flying club - when we arrived in the evening, the flying club rep said to me, as Caravanner-in-Command, there were no problems as long as we set up away from the end of the actual runway. So we did, in 2 groups, the main group and the probationary group. The next morning, the rep came over to me and asked if we could move the probationary group into the main group as they were a little close to the runway. I tried my best to explain to him that the smaller group was on probation, and that they could not possibly join the main group until they had proved themselves to be Able Caravanners. He did not understand, started swearing at me and threw us all off the premises, something that was quite dangerous as a number of us had not yet performed our morning ablutions and as such were really too distracted to drive (until we reached the nearest services).

It just goes to show that outsiders and newcomers may not understand the intricacies of clubs, and that probationary periods, education of potential recruits, and appropriate disciplinary actions are vital. I suspect it is the same with cycling clubs and jerseys.

JamieDodger - you have 3 posts and you post this absurd story. You're a wind up merchant :roll: .

Btw I have been closed passed almost taken down by caravan numptees in the past so maybe your "code of conduct" should extend to teaching your members to drive more considerately around vulnerable road users.

Hear Hear !
Never ever have like caravans...even less when I'm trying to overtake in my car as their "limited" on the roads..gggggggrrrrrrrrr !

turnerjohn

_Brun_ wrote:

Can I get a Caravan Club cycling jersey? It would make perfect sense when I'm holding up a bunch of increasingly angry motorists on narrow country lanes.

pmsl

Stewie Griffin

10 pages in which the OP has posted twice. He also started a thread on pro race and he suggested that we should just allow pros to take peds.

I think we have all been taken for mugs by a troll

mattshrops

_Brun_ wrote:
Can I get a Caravan Club cycling jersey? It would make perfect sense when I'm holding up a bunch of increasingly angry motorists on narrow country lanes.
/quote]


Have you earned it? :roll:

The-beast

mattshrops wrote:

_Brun_ wrote:
Can I get a Caravan Club cycling jersey? It would make perfect sense when I'm holding up a bunch of increasingly angry motorists on narrow country lanes.
/quote]


Have you earned it? :roll:

The-beast

mattshrops wrote:

_Brun_ wrote:
Can I get a Caravan Club cycling jersey? It would make perfect sense when I'm holding up a bunch of increasingly angry motorists on narrow country lanes.
/quote]


Have you earned it? :roll:

JamieDodger

Aggieboy wrote:

Although an interesting riposte, I would like your response to a more meaningful analogy to the OP. As 'Caravanner-in-Command', what would your reaction be to said new member arriving wearing leather driving gloves, albeit not of the 'string backed' variety, how would you deal with him and the situation? In the same vein as the OP encountered?

No problem with a probationer wearing leather driving gloves, as clearly this shows he is serious and wishes to control his car and van properly. A closer analogy would be if a probationer turned up wearing the CiC armband and had put the CiC flash on his van - clearly he would not have earned that (and unlike a bike jersey it could be dangerous as others may be misled as to his experience and it could cause a breakdown in group discipline). In those circumstances I, and I am sure the wider group, would feel obliged to remove the armband and flash by force.

I am sensing some hostility towards 'vanners in a few of the responses,which surprises me - we & cyclists are both misunderstood road users subjected to abuse by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson etc. A Caravan Club cycling jersey is a very good idea - it would show solidarity between our two communities. When I reached the top of the Stelvio with my van, I was subjected to a barrage of abuse by ignorant motorists, but I took comfort from a cyclist said to me "good on you mate" - apparently he had "drafted" me all the way up - don't really know what he meant but he seemed happy.

dilemna

JamieDodger wrote:

Aggieboy wrote:

Although an interesting riposte, I would like your response to a more meaningful analogy to the OP. As 'Caravanner-in-Command', what would your reaction be to said new member arriving wearing leather driving gloves, albeit not of the 'string backed' variety, how would you deal with him and the situation? In the same vein as the OP encountered?

No problem with a probationer wearing leather driving gloves, as clearly this shows he is serious and wishes to control his car and van properly. A closer analogy would be if a probationer turned up wearing the CiC armband and had put the CiC flash on his van - clearly he would not have earned that (and unlike a bike jersey it could be dangerous as others may be misled as to his experience and it could cause a breakdown in group discipline). In those circumstances I, and I am sure the wider group, would feel obliged to remove the armband and flash by force.

I am sensing some hostility towards 'vanners in a few of the responses,which surprises me - we & cyclists are both misunderstood road users subjected to abuse by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson etc. A Caravan Club cycling jersey is a very good idea - it would show solidarity between our two communities. When I reached the top of the Stelvio with my van, I was subjected to a barrage of abuse by ignorant motorists, but I took comfort from a cyclist said to me "good on you mate" - apparently he had "drafted" me all the way up - don't really know what he meant but he seemed happy.

There are not many things I dislike more than Top Gear, especially Clarkson, but on this occasion they were spot on. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mTI9MsE-9g

deptfordmarmoset

Le Commentateur wrote:

Great thread!

I thought I understood what was going on here until 4:25pm this afternoon. I no longer harbour any such illusions. :oops:

mattshrops

surely the caravan club jersey would be a nice grey/green shade, tweed with brown leather elbow patches? not sure how lycra shorts would go down(no pun intended) with mrs CiC a bit risque methinks?

meanredspider

PMSL @ JamieDodger - brilliant!

bompington

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

Le Commentateur wrote:

Great thread!

I thought I understood what was going on here until 4:25pm this afternoon. I no longer harbour any such illusions. :oops:

On the contrary, the sudden appearance of the improbable jamiedodger makes it abundantly clear what's going on... (speaking as someone who actually is an experienced caravanner)

What amazes me is the number of posters getting very het up indeed on both sides of a purely fictional debate - sign of a well-thought out windup, chapeau!

Yossie

mattshrops wrote:

surely the caravan club jersey would be a nice grey/green shade, tweed with brown leather elbow patches? not sure how lycra shorts would go down(no pun intended) with mrs CiC a bit risque methinks?

You may joke, but after I fell off on some ice on my Assos jacket and tore the elbow, I sent it back to them to be repaired - they have patched it (perfectly and free of charge I may add - freakin' brilliant service and can't recommend them enough) with their windproof magi-material on both elbows to match, so it does look like I am wearing an old skool teecher stylee jacket (and, I may add, it looks well cool) - I am seriously considering getting a pipe (carbon of course for weight saving) to puff along in as I scoot about in it.

Would this, however, fall me foul of those who may think that I am trying to impersonate being a member of the Pipe Smoker's Cycle Club and haven't earned the right to puff on a pipe full of Fairy liquid let alone 2 grammes of old shag? Or can I get a small sticker on the side of the same said aforementioned pipe disclaiming any assumed membership of the Pipe Smoker's CC?

greasedscotsman

Interesting posts Mr. Jamie Dodger, but I was thinking of a camper van for the various trips I take to Pro bike races around European and wondered if any of the members of the CiC had any experience of this company?

http://www.wickedcampers.co.uk/

And when I park this up at the camp site on Alpe d'Huez in July, what section should I be in? Is there a separate area for probationary members in camper vans? Does the Caravanner-in-Command produce some sort of site plan?

Determination

Pokerface wrote:

I don't know if it was expectable or not. But it certainly wasn't acceptable. 8)

Threads on this subject:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12678456
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12669222


Personally - as someone who has 'earned' my national team kit, I prefer that others who haven't, don't wear it. But I ride for a country with ugly kit so it's not usually a problem. :oops:

I am really surprised by your post. I feel having being born and lived in Ireland all my life, that I have the right to wear my National Team Kit. I pay my membership fee to Cycling Ireland of which a certain portion goes toward funding various areas of Irish cycling. I don't think I or my club mates would be able to go into a local bike shop and buy a National Team Kit if the Cycling Ireland officials didn't want us to. To me, "earning" a jersey means a lot more than just qualifying for a particular team. It means marshaling on domestic races, supporting club spins and NOT making little of my National Team Kit on a public forum.

Bikefotos

Just catching up on this thread. What a great start to the day. Thanks JamieDodger, ace post. Will only read threads that you post in from now on!

Pokerface

Determination wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

I don't know if it was expectable or not. But it certainly wasn't acceptable. 8)

Threads on this subject:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12678456
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12669222


Personally - as someone who has 'earned' my national team kit, I prefer that others who haven't, don't wear it. But I ride for a country with ugly kit so it's not usually a problem. :oops:

I am really surprised by your post. I feel having being born and lived in Ireland all my life, that I have the right to wear my National Team Kit. I pay my membership fee to Cycling Ireland of which a certain portion goes toward funding various areas of Irish cycling. I don't think I or my club mates would be able to go into a local bike shop and buy a National Team Kit if the Cycling Ireland officials didn't want us to. To me, "earning" a jersey means a lot more than just qualifying for a particular team. It means marshaling on domestic races, supporting club spins and NOT making little of my National Team Kit on a public forum.

I was trying to be lighthearted about the Irish kit. In reality I am proud to wear it and you'll see me training in it most days. I just didn't want to come across as all 'holier than thou'.

P.S. If you want to go out and buy the kit and wear it - be my guest. The whole debate just bores me now.

secretsqizz

greasedscotsman wrote:

Interesting posts Mr. Jamie Dodger, but I was thinking of a camper van for the various trips I take to Pro bike races around European and wondered if any of the members of the CiC had any experience of this company?

http://www.wickedcampers.co.uk/

And when I park this up at the camp site on Alpe d'Huez in July, what section should I be in? Is there a separate area for probationary members in camper vans? Does the Caravanner-in-Command produce some sort of site plan?

Thread sponsored by
DIRK HOFFMANN MOTORHOMES

Yossie

Bit if the Irish kit is ugly, and P/F has earned the right to wear it, surely he has also earned the right to say whether it is ugly or not and shouldn't have to defend his viewpoints to anyone?

After all, you can't polish a turd.